Walking:The Nantlle Ridge, Mynydd Mawr, Moel Hebog, Yr Eifl (The Rivals) and the quieter
western and southern approaches to Snowdon (via the Rhyd Ddu, Snowdon Ranger or Watkin paths) are close by, whilst other routes
and peaks are only a short drive away. For a nominal cost we can take you to the start of the Nantlle Ridge walk,
so that you can make a one-way traverse directly back to Cae Mawr and avoid the long return trek through Beddgelert Forest. There are a number of so-called " slate trails" in the area if you would like some shorter walks, one of which passes the end of the drive to Cae Mawr. We keep a file of information on local walks, including coast and lake
walks as well as hills and mountains, the majority of which we have done ourselves many times. Links:— Walking Britain (routes)— The Ramblers
Geocaching:
There are quite a few geocaches in the area, many of which will take you to interesting places you might not have found otherwise.
Some are on beaches, others on the tops of mountains.
Click here for a list of the nearest locations.
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Cycling:
The northern stretch of the Lôn Las Cymru (National Cycle Network) Route 8 passes nearby. Or put your bikes on the Welsh Highland Railway at Rhyd Ddu and cycle back from Caernarfon via Fforyd Bay with spectacular sea and mountain views.
We can provide secure storage for bikes and gear.
Links:
— Menai Cycles (bike hire)
— TheCyclePeople.com
Bird watching:Many kinds are birds can be seen in the area. Buzzards and some other raptors
are common, and ravens nest in the quarries. We have seen a barn owl hunting over the big field in the late evening, and have
heard cuckoos in the woods. We also get a variety of garden birds (greenfinch, nuthatch, tits, chaffinch, sparrow, great spotted
woodpecker) on the nuts in the garden. Wildfowl and wading birds can be seen at Foryd Bay north of Dinas Dinlle.
There are RSPB sites at South Stack (guillemots, razorbills, puffins, choughs) and near Porthmadog (ospreys).
Boat trips:The Menai Straits are very popular with sailors of all kinds. Fishing trips and
short cruises along the Straits to Puffin Island are available from local boat companies during the summer season. Or take a day trip by fast ferry from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and the centre of Dublin.
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Beaches:There is a beautiful ' Blue Flag' beach at Dinas Dinlle, a few minutes away (excellent toilets!). Borth-y-Gest and Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog, Criccieth
(with its castle) and Morfa Nefyn are about half an hour away. Several beaches on Anglesey are also within easy
reach, including Newborough (Llanddwyn) which can be seen from the lounge window, on the other side of the Menai Straits.
Newborough Warren is a National Nature Reserve. Or for a different kind of beach, try Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, which has boat and
canoe hire.
Diving:
The well known Dorothea Quarry is a few minutes away. (Please note that diving at Dorothea is officially not permitted and is not suitable for novice divers.
Plans for redeveloping the site are, as ever, ongoing.)
See the history of the quarry here.
Links:
— UK Diving
Pleasure flights:Caernarfon Air World near Dinas Dinlle has a small aviation museum, and
they also operate pleasure flights over the castles of North West Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia, from Bardsey to the Great Orme.
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